Exhibit 13(a)(1)
Allspring Funds Trust
Allspring Master Trust
Allspring Variable Trust
Allspring Global Dividend Opportunity Fund
Allspring Income Opportunities Fund
Allspring Multi-Sector Income Fund
Allspring Utilities and High-Income Fund
Joint Code of Ethics for Principal Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers
I. Covered Officers / Purpose of the Code
This Code of Ethics (“Code”) of Allspring Funds Trust, Allspring Master Trust and Allspring Variable Trust, Allspring Global Dividend Opportunity Fund, Allspring Income Opportunities Fund, Allspring Multi-Sector Income Fund and Allspring Utilities and High Income Fund (collectively, the “Trusts” and each, “a Trust”) applies to each Trust’s Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and any other Trust officer’s listed on Exhibit A (the “Covered Officers”) for the purpose of promoting:
| • | honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; |
| • | full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable financial disclosure in reports and documents that a Trust files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in other public communications made by the Trust; |
| • | compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations; |
| • | the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and |
| • | accountability for adherence to the Code. |
Each Covered Officer should adhere to a high standard of business ethics and should be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest.
II. Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically Both Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest
Overview. A “conflict of interest” occurs when a Covered Officer’s private interest interferes with the interests of, or his or her service to, a Trust. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position with the Trust. Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and the Trust and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”) and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Investment Advisers Act”). For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the Trust because of their status as “affiliated persons” of the Trust. The compliance programs and procedures of the Trust and Allspring Funds Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) are designed to prevent, or identify and correct, violations of these provisions. This Code does not, and is not intended to, repeat or replace these programs and procedures, and such conflicts fall outside of the parameters of this Code.
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Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between the Trust and the Adviser, of which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees. As a result, this Code recognizes that the Covered Officers will, in the normal course of their duties (whether formally for the Trust or for the Adviser, or for both), be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that will have different effects on the Adviser and the Trust. The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between the Trust and the Adviser and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the Trust. Each Covered Officer recognizes that, as an officer of a Trust, he or she has a duty to act in the best interests of the Trust and its shareholders. If a Covered Officer believes that his or her responsibilities as an officer or employee of the Adviser are likely to materially compromise his or her objectivity or his or her ability to perform the duties of his or her role as an officer of the Trust, he or she should consult with the Chief Legal Officer. Under appropriate circumstances, a Covered Officer should also consider whether to present the matter to the Board. In addition, it is recognized by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (“Board”) that the Covered Officers may also be officers or employees of one or more other investment companies covered by this or other codes.
Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code, even if such conflicts of interest are not subject to provisions in the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. The following list provides examples of conflicts of interest under the Code, but Covered Officers should keep in mind that these examples are not exhaustive. The overarching principle is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of the Trust.
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Each Covered Officer must:
| • | not use his or her personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by a Trust whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the Trust; |
| • | not cause the Trust to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the benefit of a Trust; |
| • | not use material non-public knowledge of portfolio transactions made or contemplated for the Trust to trade personally or cause others to trade personally in contemplation of the market effect of such transactions; |
| • | not retaliate against any other Covered Officer or any employee of a Trust or its affiliated persons for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith; and |
| • | not engage in personal, business or professional relationships or dealings that would impair his or her independence of judgment or adversely affect the performance of his or her duties in the best interests of the Trust and their shareholders. |
There are some conflict of interest situations that should always be approved in advance by the Chief Legal Officer of the Trust (the “Chief Legal Officer”) if material. Examples of these include:
| • | service as a director on the board of any public or private for-profit company (provided, however, that a Covered Officer who is employed by another company (e.g., Allspring) may serve as a director of such company or any entity, controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such company); |
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| • | acquiring a financial interest in any company that provides services to the Trust (provided, however, that a Covered Officer who is employed by another company (e.g., Allspring) may have an ownership interest in his or her employer or the employer’s parent company); |
| • | the receipt of any entertainment or gifts from any person or company with which the Trust has current or prospective business dealings unless such entertainment is business-related, reasonable in cost, appropriate as to time and place, and not so frequent as to raise any question of impropriety; |
| • | any consulting or employment relationship with any of the Trust’s service providers, other than with the primary employer of the Covered Officer; and |
| • | a direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction charges or spreads paid by the Trust for effecting portfolio transactions or for selling or redeeming shares, other than an interest arising from the Covered Officer’s primary employment, such as compensation or equity ownership. |
III. Disclosure and Compliance
Each Covered Officer should familiarize himself or herself with the disclosure requirements generally applicable to the Trust.
Each Covered Officer should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Trust to others, whether within or outside the Trust, including to the Board and the Trust’s auditors, and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations.
Each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his or her area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the Trust and the Adviser with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the Trust files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Trust.
It is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Each Covered Officer should, consistent with his or her responsibilities, exercise appropriate supervision over and assist relevant Trust service providers in developing financial information and other disclosure that complies with relevant law and presents information in a clear, comprehensible and complete manner.
Each Covered Officer is responsible for the accuracy of the records and reports that he or she is responsible for maintaining. The books and records of the Trust shall meet the highest standards and accurately reflect the true nature of the transactions they record. The Covered Officers must not create false or misleading documents or accounting, financial or electronic records for any purpose, and must not direct any other person to do so. If a Covered Officer becomes aware that information filed with the SEC or made available to the public contains any false or misleading information or omits to disclose necessary information, he shall promptly report it to Chief Legal Officer for a determination as to what, if any, corrective action is necessary or appropriate.
No undisclosed or unrecorded account or fund shall be established for any purpose. No false or misleading entries shall be made in a Trust’s books or records for any reason. No disbursement of a Trust’s assets shall be made without adequate supporting documentation or for any purpose other than as described in the Trust’s documents or contracts.
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A Trust will maintain and preserve for a period of not less than six (6) years from the date such action is taken, the first two (2) years in an easily accessible place, a copy of the information or materials supplied to the Board: (i) that provided the basis for any amendment or waiver to this Code, and (ii) relating to any violation of the Code and sanctions imposed for such violation, together with a written record of the approval or action taken by the Board.
IV. Reporting and Accountability
Each Covered Officer must:
| • | upon adoption of the Code (or thereafter upon becoming a Covered Officer), affirm in writing (in the form attached to this Code) to the Board that he or she has received, read, and understands the Code; |
| • | annually thereafter affirm in writing (in the form attached to this Code) to the Board that he or she has complied with the requirements of the Code; and |
| • | notify the Chief Legal Officer of the Trust promptly if he or she knows of any violation of this Code. Failure to do so is itself a violation of this Code. |
The Chief Legal Officer is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented under it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. While the Chief Legal Officer in authorized to interpret this Code, an approval of a situation that is expressly prohibited by this Code is deemed to be a “waiver” and can be approved only by the Board.
The Trust will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code:
| • | the Chief Legal Officer will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to him or her; |
| • | if, after such investigation, the Chief Legal Officer believes that no violation has occurred, the Chief Legal Officer is not required to take any further action; |
| • | any matter that the Chief Legal Officer believes is a violation will be reported to the Board; |
| • | if the Board concurs that a violation has occurred, it will consider appropriate action, which may include review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of the Adviser; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer; |
| • | the Board will be responsible for granting waivers, as appropriate (a “waiver” is the approval of a situation that is expressly prohibited by this Code); and |
| • | any changes to or waivers of this Code will, to the extent required, be disclosed as provided by SEC rules. |
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V. Other Policies and Procedures
This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Trusts for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the Trusts or the Adviser govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, they are superseded by this Code to the extent that they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code. The codes of ethics adopted by the Trusts and the Adviser under Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act are separate requirements applying to the Covered Officers and others, and are not part of this Code.
VI. Amendments
Any amendments to this Code, other than amendments to Exhibit A, must be approved or ratified by a majority vote of the Board, including a majority of independent Trustees.
VII. Confidentiality
All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except upon request of the SEC or another regulatory agency, or as otherwise required by law or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than Board and its counsel.
VIII. Internal Use
The Code is intended solely for the internal use by each Trust and does not constitute an admission, by or on behalf of any Trust, as to any fact, circumstance, or legal conclusion.
IX. Disclosure of Code of Ethics to the Public
Pursuant to Item 2(f) of Form N-CSR the registrant is required to disclose the Code of Ethics per one of the methods listed below:
| (1) | File with the Commission, pursuant to Item 13(a)(1), a copy of its code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, as an exhibit to its annual report on this Form N-CSR; |
| (2) | Post the text of such code of ethics on its Internet website and disclose, in its most recent report on this Form N- CSR, its Internet address and the fact that it has posted such code of ethics on its Internet website; or |
| (3) | Undertake in its most recent report on this Form N-CSR to provide to any person without charge, upon request, a copy of such code of ethics and explain the manner in which such request may be made. |
X. Interpretation of Code
This Code will not be interpreted or applied in any manner that would violate the legal rights of any Covered Officer as an employee under applicable law. For example, nothing in this Code or the Exhibits attached hereto prohibits or in any way restricts any Covered Officer from reporting possible violations of law or regulation to, otherwise communicating directly with, cooperating with or providing information to any governmental or regulatory body or any self-regulatory organization or making other disclosures that are protected under applicable law or regulations of the SEC or any other governmental or regulatory body or self-regulatory organization. A Covered Officer does not need prior authorization of the Trust or Adviser before taking any such action and is not required to inform the Trust or Adviser if he or she chooses to take such action.
Amended: January 31, 2022
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Exhibit A
Persons Covered by the Code
Andrew Owen, President of each Trust
Jeremy DePalma, Treasurer of each Trust
Exhibit A amended: January 31, 2022
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